HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)– The opioid crisis was once again the topic of conversation in the capital city Wednesday morning, specifically the affect it’s having here in Connecticut.

The opioid crisis has had an impact on countless families, first responders and hospitals. The topic Wednesday at Infinity Music Hall was about opioids in the workplace.

“Employers have employees who are addicted to opioids and so they have to know how to deal with that issue,” said Greg Bordonaro from the Hartford Business Journal, which put on the forum.

State officials and healthcare leaders discussing a wide range of topics. Specifically how employers can identify the signs of opioid addiction in the workplace, as well as resources available to them for help.

A recent article in the Hartford Business Journal noted that the opioid crisis costs the U.S. nearly $79 billion. 20 percent of that amount comes from lost worker productivity and increased disability. Those numbers are coming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Adding to all of this, the National Safety Council found that 75 percent of people who are dealing with a substance abuse issue are in the workforce. So this is an issue that many employers are really trying to get a handle on. And there’s good reason to be having this conversation.

Governor Malloy was at Wednesday’s forum, brining up the fact that dependence on pain meds is leading some down the path of addiction.

“So I think we need to change the dialogue and our assumptions about pain in America. You know, maybe a little pain is a good thing,” said Governor. Malloy.

WTNH NEWS8 provides commenting to allow for constructive discussion on the stories we cover. In order to comment here, you acknowledge you have read and agreed to our Terms of Service. Commenters who violate these terms, including use of vulgar language or racial slurs, will be banned. Please be respectful of the opinions of others. If you see an inappropriate comment, please flag it for our moderators to review. Also, you can now block any inappropriate user by simple selecting the drop down menu on the right of any comment and selection "Block User" from there.